A report into alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) should serve as a “wake-up call”, Alcohol Concern Cymru said.
It highlights the condition, known as ARBD, which it says is poorly understood by the public and the health service leading to under-diagnosis.
Symptoms include confusion, memory loss and difficulty reasoning as a result of heavy drinking.
The charity is using the report to raise awareness to help develop improvements in prevention and help.
Dr Aisha Holloway has begun a 2 day a month secondment as Honorary Nurse Consultant for Alcohol Policy & Research with the Alcohol Policy Team at Scottish Government.
Aisha has a particular interest in enhancing the profile and status of nursing alcohol related research at policy level and fostering academic and policy collaborations. During the secondment Aisha will be facilitating and leading on a programme of work related exploring the delivery of Alcohol Brief Interventions in Policy Custody in Scotland.
“I am committed to increasing the capacity and capability of nurses contribution to policy development. Working alongside colleagues in the Alcohol Policy Unit will offer a unique opportunity to engage with policy development in relation to Alcohol-related harm in Scotland. I welcome the opportunity to lead on The Alcohol Brief Intervention Project in Policy Custody settings project.”
Development, delivery and evaluation of Alcohol Brief Interventions is a key area of Aisha’s programme of research.
Researchers at the University of Dundee are recruiting 700 men aged between 25 and 44 who drink more than 8 units of alcohol per session.
The participants will receive regular texts for three months, followed by a phone interview to assess if there has been a change in their drinking behaviour.
Link: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/pressreleases/2013/december13/bingedrinking.html
Public support for minimum pricing of alcohol in England is greater than previously thought.
Analysis by the Institute of Alcohol Studies of submissions to the Home Office consultation on minimum pricing shows that the Home Office failed to distinguish between those responses that were against the principle of minimum pricing at any level, and those who actually wanted a price higher than the 45p proposed by the government.
A recent report has shown that deaths by alcohol consumption are higher in Scotland than northern England.
Twenty Scots are still dying every week because of alcohol, despite a recent downward trend. The latest MESAS report shows higher deaths in central Scotland are consistent with more alcohol being sold. The most apparent difference between the regions was the substantially higher level of spirits sold in supermarkets and off-licences in Scotland
